Inquiry to tour NSW hospitals

Inquiry to tour NSW hospitals

The head of the special commission of inquiry into the state’s health system intends to take his special commission to hospitals around New South Wales.

The inquiry was set up by the New South Wales Government last month after the deputy state coroner blamed Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital for the 2005 death of 16-year-old Vanessa Anderson, who was hit in the head by a golfball.

The coroner, Carl Milovanovich, found the hospital made every conceivable error in its treatment of Miss Anderson, who he said died because she was given the wrong dose of painkillers.

He branded the death “tragic” and “avoidable”, and recommended an inquiry into the NSW health system.

Peter Garling SC opened proceedings today, saying his inquiry would not be an adversarial one conducted for the purpose of fixing blame for past events.

“I will not permit my inquiry to be an occasion for grandstanding and speech-making motivated only by self interest,” he said.

“The subject matter of the inquiry and the importance of it – the wellbeing of everyone who lives in NSW – will demand nothing less.”

Mr Garling is already in the process of visiting hospitals and area health services around the state and intends to hold public hearings there.

He also plans to hold private hearings and allow individuals to make confidential submissions.

Mr Garling says he will also set up a consultative group of experts to help him form his opinions and come up with recommendations.

“I will dedicate myself throughout the course of this inquiry to the identification of reforms which will result in the improvement of quality and safety of acute patient care services in NSW,” he said.

“That is what my commission requires me to do and that is what the public of NSW is entitled to expect.”

He is due to report back at the end of July.

‘Hospitals excluded’

The State Opposition has criticised the inquiry, saying it has too big a task and too little time in which to do it.

Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell says more than half the state’s hospitals have been excluded from the inquiry.

“The counsel assisting the inquiry today said that the inquiry would be restricted to examining issues concerning 115 hospitals – hospitals that offered acute services and emergency departments across the state,” he said.

“This is a clear breach of faith with what [Health Minister] Reba Meagher and [Premier] Morris Iemma announced in January.”

The Opposition claims a royal commission is needed but the Government says the inquiry has all the powers of one.

It says Mr Garling can ask for an extension of time if he wishes.

‘Terms of reference broad’

Ms Meagher says the Government is committed to improving the system.

“There’ll always be challenges in a system that is so large and provides so many services,” he said.

“The special commission of inquiry offers a serious chance to examine services and how the delivery may be improved. That’s why I welcome the formal inquiry opening today.”

She says the current system is working well but she would like to find ways to make it better.

“The terms of reference for the inquiry are very broad ranging,” she said.

“We welcome the opportunity for the inquiry to make recommendations of how we can make our system even stronger.”